Mohammad Taghi Khan-e-Bafghi's Biography:
Mohammad Taghi Khan was born in 1716 in Bafgh, a suburb of Yazd. His father was Mirza Mohammad Bagher-e-Bafghi and his mother was a sister to Mirza Enayat Soltan (Yazd's ruler during the Afghans' era). During Enayat Soltan's rule, Mohammad taghi Khan used to serve in Yazd and occasionally in Bafgh. In 1729, Eneyat Soltan was slaughtered by the Afghans and the only ones who remained from his entourage were Mirza Mohammad Bagher and his sons.
In 1747, Mohammad Taghi Khan moved to Yazd, accompanied with his gunmen, and took over the rule of the city at the request of the respected figures of the city. Mohammad Taghi Khan's reign lasted for 50 years. During this period, many rulers emerged and disappeared; yet, he remained at the position of power. Some of the most notable of these rulers had been Adel Shah (Nader Shah-e-Afshar's brother), Shahrokh Shah, Karim Khan-e-Zand, Mohammad zaki Khan, Ali Morad Khan, Abo-al-fath Khan, Lotfali Khan and Agha Mohammad Khan-e-Ghajar. Mohammad Taghi Khan and Fath Ali Shah passed away around the same time.
Mohammad taghi Khan-e-Bafghi's Contributions:
"Upon each traveler being asked where their destination was, they would recall the threshold of his grace and upon each passenger being asked what their aim was, they would reply that they wish for nothing more than paying a visit to his gracious highness" (Naeini, 1974, P. 297).
Naeini's description of Mohammad Taghi Khan is a clear attestation to this great Khan's just governing policies.
After gaining power, Mohammad Taghi Khan announced that entrepreneurs in Yazd would be exempt from paying taxes.
This decision marked a remarkable rise in the job industry in Yazd and enhanced the city's trading and money-making prowess.
It got to the point that tradesmen would travel to Yazd from adjacent cities and this paved the way for the creation of more stores, bazaars, caravanserais, qanats (underground water transportation systems), gardens, and urban areas. Ultimately, these advancements got to the point that a brand new city was built on the outskirts of Yazd, the population of which exceeded that of Yazd.W Mohammad Taghi Khan's legacy in the city of Yazd could be divided into three main categories: The first category: This category contains the constructions that were built in the bazaar region of Yazd and outside the bounds of the city, for instance: The Khan School, Gheysariyeh (Bazaar), the Khan Caravanserai The second category: This category contains the qanats and gardens located on the outskirts of the city of Yazd.
The most important qanat built by Mohammad Taghi Khan was the Dolat Abad Qanat. The third category: This category contains Mohammad Taghi Khan's constructions outside of the city, including two qanats and a garden in Taft, a suburb of Yazd.
